[pianotech] can I take a different tack?

wjstuner at juno.com wjstuner at juno.com
Mon Nov 24 16:11:10 PST 2008


Tom,  I installed one of those new "Rinky Tink" attachments for pianos, and I was amazed at how well it worked.  It takes a bit longer than what you think it will take, so charge for it.  How often do we get to do something new and different?


Bill Schlipf
Bloomington, IL

-- Tom Sivak <tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
List

On Wednesday I am going to be asked about converting an upright piano into a "Tack Piano".   

I know that Schaff has a rail that can be installed to simulate the "Tack Piano" sound, but I'm not convinced it will work very well.  After all, it's from Schaff!

Oooh, I can't believe I wrote that!

No, what I meant was, after all, mute rails don't work very well either, even on Yamahas, so why would a self-installed tack piano rail work?  On the other hand, it would be non-invasive and non-permanent.

But, I'm wondering about other options.  Certainly actual tacks could be inserted into the hammer at the strike point---I assume that's what was done originally.  Why else would it be called a "tack piano"?  That would work wouldn't it?   

I also wonder if the hammers could be doped to be hard enough to simulate the tack piano sound.   The negative here would be the relative permanence of the modification. 

I'm open to other suggestions or flames in my general direction.  However, before anyone throws dirt at the client who wants this done, I should mention that he's a rather high profile successful rock musician with Gold Records and all that comes with it.   This is my first appointment with him, so I'm interested in accommodating him in whatever way I can.

Including buying 88 tacks and shoving them into the hammers, one by one, if that's what it takes.  

Any thoughts?

Tom Sivak
Chicago






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